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Hayao Miyazaki: Japan's Premier Anime Storyteller
Chronicles the life and career of the Japanese animation filmmaker who is one of the most respected professionals in the field and is known for his work on "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Princess Mononoke," and "Spirited away."
- GenresArt
160 pages, Library Binding
First published November 1, 2011
24 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lenburg
55 books4 followersJEFF LENBURG is a prolific, award-winning author, celebrity biographer, entertainment historian, and writer-producer. He has authored 35 books, both fiction and non-fiction. His work has garnered nominations for several awards, including the American Library Association's "Best Non-Fiction Award" and the Evangelical Christian Publisher Association's Gold Medallion Award for "Best Autobiography/Biography."
In his teens, Jeff began interviewing many famous Hollywood personalities and became a frequent contributor to many leading and respected film journals and magazines that published his freelance work.
As one of the nation's premier biographers, he has authored 18 acclaimed celebrity memoirs and biographies. They include: the autobiography of actor Lorenzo Lamas, "Renegade at Heart"; the eight-book "Legends of Animation" series featuring biographies of Tex Avery, Walt Disney, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Matt Groening, Walter Lantz, John Lasseter, Hayao Miyazaki, and Genndy Tartakovsky; "How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying)" with radio/TV legend Gary Owens; "All the Gold In California and Other People, Places & Things" with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin; "Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake," the only authorized biography of her; "Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography"; "Dustin Hoffman: Hollywood's Antihero"; and "Steve Martin: An Unauthorized Biography."
An acknowledged authority on cartoon animation, Jeff has spent three decades preserving its history. He has penned seven books about its history: the first-ever "Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators"; three editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons," the most comprehensive history and so-called "Bible" on animated cartoons ever produced; "The Great Cartoon Directors"; and two editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoon Series," the first reference book on animated cartoons ever produced.
In 1993, in recognition of his contributions to the world of animation, Jeff was inducted into Hollywood's "Cartoon Legends Walk of Fame" along with cartoon icons William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Friz Freleng, June Foray and Don Messick.
Jeff is also a leading expert on the Three Stooges comedy team. A close friend of the original Stooges Moe Howard and Larry Fine and latter-day additions Joe Besser and Joe DeRita (and the only author-historian to have known them), he has co-written two books about this wacky comedy trio: "The Three Stooges Scrapbook," the official, authorized history, and "Once A Stooge, Always A Stooge," the autobiography of Three Stooges member Joe Besser. In 1983, along with radio-TV legend Gary Owens and his twin brother Greg, he spearheaded a nationwide write-in campaign that earned the Stooges their long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jeff is also the author of numerous popular references: "Career Opportunities in Animation," a guide to a career in film, television, and games animation; two editions of "The Facts On File Guide to Research," the most comprehensive guide ever written on the subject of writing and research; and "Baseball's All-Star Game," a definitive game-by-game history of baseball's mid-summer classic.
In addition, Jeff has turned to writing fiction. In 1995, he published his first novel, "Scared to Death: A Lori Matrix Hollywood Mystery."
As writer and producer, Jeff has also worked on many top-rated programs and specials for ABC, NBC, PBS, and Tribune Broadcasting, served on the advisory board of Cartoon Network in its development from its inception, and as founder of his own company, Sandcastle Entertainment, develops original properties for both film and television, including live-action and animated television series (including original branded reality series), specials, and documentaries, and original branded characters for animation.
Throughout h
In his teens, Jeff began interviewing many famous Hollywood personalities and became a frequent contributor to many leading and respected film journals and magazines that published his freelance work.
As one of the nation's premier biographers, he has authored 18 acclaimed celebrity memoirs and biographies. They include: the autobiography of actor Lorenzo Lamas, "Renegade at Heart"; the eight-book "Legends of Animation" series featuring biographies of Tex Avery, Walt Disney, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Matt Groening, Walter Lantz, John Lasseter, Hayao Miyazaki, and Genndy Tartakovsky; "How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying)" with radio/TV legend Gary Owens; "All the Gold In California and Other People, Places & Things" with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin; "Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake," the only authorized biography of her; "Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography"; "Dustin Hoffman: Hollywood's Antihero"; and "Steve Martin: An Unauthorized Biography."
An acknowledged authority on cartoon animation, Jeff has spent three decades preserving its history. He has penned seven books about its history: the first-ever "Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators"; three editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons," the most comprehensive history and so-called "Bible" on animated cartoons ever produced; "The Great Cartoon Directors"; and two editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoon Series," the first reference book on animated cartoons ever produced.
In 1993, in recognition of his contributions to the world of animation, Jeff was inducted into Hollywood's "Cartoon Legends Walk of Fame" along with cartoon icons William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Friz Freleng, June Foray and Don Messick.
Jeff is also a leading expert on the Three Stooges comedy team. A close friend of the original Stooges Moe Howard and Larry Fine and latter-day additions Joe Besser and Joe DeRita (and the only author-historian to have known them), he has co-written two books about this wacky comedy trio: "The Three Stooges Scrapbook," the official, authorized history, and "Once A Stooge, Always A Stooge," the autobiography of Three Stooges member Joe Besser. In 1983, along with radio-TV legend Gary Owens and his twin brother Greg, he spearheaded a nationwide write-in campaign that earned the Stooges their long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jeff is also the author of numerous popular references: "Career Opportunities in Animation," a guide to a career in film, television, and games animation; two editions of "The Facts On File Guide to Research," the most comprehensive guide ever written on the subject of writing and research; and "Baseball's All-Star Game," a definitive game-by-game history of baseball's mid-summer classic.
In addition, Jeff has turned to writing fiction. In 1995, he published his first novel, "Scared to Death: A Lori Matrix Hollywood Mystery."
As writer and producer, Jeff has also worked on many top-rated programs and specials for ABC, NBC, PBS, and Tribune Broadcasting, served on the advisory board of Cartoon Network in its development from its inception, and as founder of his own company, Sandcastle Entertainment, develops original properties for both film and television, including live-action and animated television series (including original branded reality series), specials, and documentaries, and original branded characters for animation.
Throughout h
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2019
This book introduced me to Hayao Miyazaki's works, and I enjoyed reading the quotations from random customers and the little vignettes about Hayao's visits to America. The book contained too much editorializing ("spectacular") from the author himself, and resorted too often to listing box office amounts as if they meant anything. I expected a more in-depth look into Hayao's storytelling techniques, i.e. what separates him from his peers. I got a lot of superficial opinions secondhand through the quotations, like John Lasseter's remarks and the Disney animators' comments on his subtlety and animation of nature. More of that - an exploration of his storytelling and animation techniques, rather than their box office results - would have made this a more interesting read.
February 24, 2019
No real ending. Just replayed the start. I wouldn't have gotten this on audiobook if I have known what it would be like.
Good: How Miyazaki got started was ok. Few small bits about the movies.
Bad: Then we go into which countries liked them and how much. Uh, I don't care. I obviously liked them. Who cares about all these numbers? I want to hear more about the animes themselves. Not enough on Totoro. Not enough on Howl's Moving Castle. Not enough Kiki.
Then we hear what the critics thought. They didn't understand Howl's Moving Castle...Derp. Who are these critics. The Christian Science Monitor? Lol. I'm not going to these guys for a review of Plato's Republic much less a Miyazaki anime. Psst. Critics in my opinion who aren't real critics except for one good review from Ebert.
It was like the writer never saw the animes.
I want to know more about he characters, the way the drawing was done. Maybe some of the animators. Myazaki's poor relationship with his son was not a way to end the book.
I can tell no one else really listened to it because after that, they replay part of the beginning again.
Good: How Miyazaki got started was ok. Few small bits about the movies.
Bad: Then we go into which countries liked them and how much. Uh, I don't care. I obviously liked them. Who cares about all these numbers? I want to hear more about the animes themselves. Not enough on Totoro. Not enough on Howl's Moving Castle. Not enough Kiki.
Then we hear what the critics thought. They didn't understand Howl's Moving Castle...Derp. Who are these critics. The Christian Science Monitor? Lol. I'm not going to these guys for a review of Plato's Republic much less a Miyazaki anime. Psst. Critics in my opinion who aren't real critics except for one good review from Ebert.
It was like the writer never saw the animes.
I want to know more about he characters, the way the drawing was done. Maybe some of the animators. Myazaki's poor relationship with his son was not a way to end the book.
I can tell no one else really listened to it because after that, they replay part of the beginning again.
January 6, 2020
Part of a series, Legends of Animation, this books goes into the life and films of Hayao Miyazaki. It is a fairly small book, but contains a wide range of information, including how his films were received in different countries, who he influenced, and some quotes on how he felt about different projects he and his studio worked on. Published in 2012, this is a decent update to Helen McCarthy’s somewhat more more in depth analysis of his moves published in 1999(?).
I bought the Audible version first (~$10), then happened upon the the small hardcover in a used bookstore for about $15 (normal price is $35). The physical book has a nice layout and many pictures, mostly from the movies. I might be interested in others in the series, but probably not at $35 a piece.
I bought the Audible version first (~$10), then happened upon the the small hardcover in a used bookstore for about $15 (normal price is $35). The physical book has a nice layout and many pictures, mostly from the movies. I might be interested in others in the series, but probably not at $35 a piece.
November 16, 2021
I enjoyed learning more about Miyazaki and the process behind his films. While I did not agree with all of the author's descriptions of the films, the book was informative nonetheless.
March 18, 2014
The only book on Miyazaki that the library had, so even though it looked like it was aimed at children I thought I'd give it a go. It looks like it's a children's book, it's a wide, thin hardback with fairly large text, lots of colors all over, Planet Benson 2 font-type chapter titles, and cheesy designs on every page whether it be funky borders around the pictures or the comic book explosions behind every page number. Comic Sans wouldn't seem out of place in this book. But then you realize the sad truth of it: this probably isn't a children's book, it's just poorly designed. The writing doesn't seem at all to pander towards children and I could imagine even a middle-schooler finding some vocabulary above their skill level. That being said, I wouldn't be very surprised if a middle-schooler wrote this. The writing is pretty awful. Countless grammatical and spelling errors and just generally poorly crafted sentences. It's the most boring, uninspired writing you can find, never really forming a narrative or providing any interesting ideas, instead it really just lists facts like box-office grosses, dates, and award nominations that call all be found on Wikipedia. Even some of the translations of Miyazaki quotes seemed like they were done by Google Translate circa 2007, making what could have been the best part of the book at times incomprehensible and silly.
A pretty boring, generic, and largely pointless overview of a filmmaker that is just the opposite. I come away with only the regret of wasted time. Not recommended even for kids.
A pretty boring, generic, and largely pointless overview of a filmmaker that is just the opposite. I come away with only the regret of wasted time. Not recommended even for kids.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews